The Nordby Effect

I had a very unique opportunity this Fall. I was asked to help facilitate the AIA Chicago’s jury review of the Redwood Empire’s AIA 2018 Design Awards as one of their Board Members. A quick Expedia booking, a 12P P.M. red-eye to Chicago, a Blue Train to the Chicago AIA Headquarters, a 6-hour deliberation followed by the Blue Train and 12 P.M. return flight to San Francisco, I had an interesting 24-hour insight to the review of what happens in AIA Design Awards review process. The following are some of the take-aways for helping submitting firms understand the thinking of a jury.

When it comes to gaining a different perspective on a home construction project, it could be said the sky’s the limit on what a UAV (aka drone) footage and provide. The number of applications for drone footage are growing. From planning to demonstration of progress, to site inspections, there are a number of applications that could save both time and money. The footage also provides a historic record for reflection and improvement on the next project. This Nordby Effect covers the areas we’ve identified to be of value for our clients and teams in our experiences with drones on home construction sites.

After a long day of construction in California’s wine country, it’s not hard to find a great place to eat, drink, and decompress. If you want to check out a world-class winery or the next best restaurant, you’ll find these places are within immediate reach. It's also interesting to note that many wineries are pairing their wines with their own farm-to-fork menus. In this Nordby Effect, we take a moment to highlight our project sampling of places to wine and dine throughout the state. Enjoy!

The traditional country club is having a hard time attracting a younger demographic. In a 2014 study commissioned by the National Club Association found that in the 1990s, there more than 5,000 full-service golf and country clubs. In 2010, there around 4,100. Today, this number has dipped below 4000. In this same study, membership was down by 20 percent. As a result of this downward trajectory, many clubs have decided to mix things up to attract younger members.

As builders, we’ve witnessed this trend. Many of area’s country clubs are going through a refresh, offering non-golf amenities like gyms, personal trainers, and yoga classes. A lot of these clubs offer events and culinary experiences where members can socialize and gain a sense of community. It is interesting to see this shift taking place. This Nordby Effect highlights the projects where we’ve played an active role in refreshing country club environments to address a new generation of members, and create more of a family destination.

Transforming a countryside into a long-term sustainable ranch takes imagination. Lee Hudson, proprietor of Hudson Ranch, has cultivated a vision for farming into a tangible reality on a Carneros property in the Napa Valley. Hudson Ranch began planting in 1981 and, since then, has evolved into a fully-functioning farm that compliments the area’s natural surroundings. The ranch incorporates winemaking and hospitality facilities. While the Hudson Ranch is an interesting story of holistic farming, this Nordby Effect post discusses how their newly-built wine cave serves a greater purpose.

Building performance is a hot topic among design and construction professionals. This buzz phrase refers to a comprehensive approach in seeking solutions for saving energy, improving end-user comfort and reducing operational or maintenance costs. Building performance initiatives focus on facility systems that support operational facilities. The key goals are sustainability and optimal performance throughout the structure’s lifetime. It can be argued that a wine cave, by nature, defines building performance.

Duckhorn Wine Company has set the standard for American fine wine for almost four decades. Today, our Duckhorn family includes Duckhorn Vineyards, Paraduxx, Goldeneye, Migration, Decoy and Canvasback. In a number of ways, meeting our business goals for growth requires partnering together with insightful and trustworthy general contractors and tradespeople on wine facility expansion projects. More specifically, engaging reliable building professionals on one or more short-term projects is mission critical to a project’s success in terms of cost, quality, and efficiency.

When you think of country clubs, what comes to mind? Are you thinking of how your parents or grandparents would spend their leisure time? For most of us, this is the case. Unfortunately, the country clubs of days past do not really appeal to today’s business person. While there is interest in going to private country clubs, the next generation members are looking for an environment that better addresses their needs.

Building with concrete is nothing new. In existence for over 12 million years, it has historical significance. You’ll find Romans built numerous concrete structures, including the Pantheon. Today, concrete is ubiquitous. This composite material consists of fine and course aggregate bonded by cement and water that hardens over time. Concrete is chosen for its strength and aesthetic, characteristics particularly attractive for homeowners looking for a resilient dwelling. This Nordby Effect post discusses things to consider when designing and building a concrete home.

You could say an underground wine cave is Earth’s answer to the wine fridge. Varying in size and use, these spaces are intriguing and, more importantly, practical for wine aging and storage. Wine caves are not new. For hundreds of years, people have used these spaces to store wine for reasons that are just as relevant today. This post covers six persuasive and practical reasons why wineries should seriously consider storing wine in a cave.

The Nordby Effect

The Nordby Effect can often be described as being reassured that a project is being performed in a way that exceeds expectations. Most websites feature finished structures. The real story happens before the project is finished. This blog covers the project story and the people who make these structures a tangible reality.